Deals show they're talking

Published 1:00 am, Thursday, November 19, 2009

Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI

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Paul Buckowski/Times Union
Gov. David Paterson, left, holds a photo of Leandra Rosado, as her father, Lenny Rosado cries. His daughter died in a car crash where the driver is charged with DWI. The new law signed Wednesday in Albany toughens penalties. (Paul Buckowski) less

Paul Buckowski/Times Union
Gov. David Paterson, left, holds a photo of Leandra Rosado, as her father, Lenny Rosado cries. His daughter died in a car crash where the driver is charged with DWI. The new law ... more

Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI

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Gov. David Paterson signs the Child Passenger Protection Act, known as Leandra's Law, which makes it a felony for individuals to drive while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs with children in the car a the Capitol in Albany, NY on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, as Leandra's father, Lenny Rosado holds a photo of his daughter. She was killed in a DWI crash. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Gov. David Paterson signs the Child Passenger Protection Act, known as Leandra's Law, which makes it a felony for individuals to drive while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs with children in the car ... more

Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI

Deals show they're talking

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ALBANY — Gov. David Paterson and the Legislature stayed in motion Wednesday on two pieces of significant legislation, even as the declared goal of this week's political wrangling — closing the state's $3.2 billion budget deficit — remained out of sight.

Even so, Wednesday saw the passage of Leandra's Law, which stiffens penalties for drunken drivers who operate their vehicle with children on board and expands the use of interlock devices for anyone convicted of a DWI.

The bill, which was passed by the Assembly Tuesday night, was approved in the Senate and promptly signed by the governor — veritable lightning speed by legislative standards. The main provisions of the law were introduced in August, but gained momentum following the death in early October of 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was a passenger in a car driven by an allegedly drunken driver.

Lenny Rosado, her father, joined legislators for the ceremony in the Capitol's ornate Red Room.

About an hour after that signing, lawmakers and the governor returned to the same room to trumpet a three-way agreement on the Public Authorities Reform Act, which will place greater oversight and controls on the state's vast system of public authorities.

Often described as a "shadow government," these entities — which range from the state Thruway Authority, Power Authority and scores of smaller organizations — can issue billions of dollars of taxpayer-funded debt with virtually no control by voters.

The reform measures would greatly enhance transparency and reporting by authorities, and would place a fiduciary duty on board members to the authority itself as opposed to the politicians who appointed them to it.

"These authorities have operated largely in the dark. ... Today we're turning the lights on," Paterson said at an afternoon press conference.

Within 90 minutes, the measure sailed through the Assembly — but the Senate closed down for the night without taking it up; the chamber was scheduled to go back into session at 4 p.m. today.

Senate Republicans privately complained that the measure included a poison pill in the form of a provision they believe would tilt the awarding of construction projects toward unions.

The provision essentially ruled that public authorities building or renovating hotels or convention centers must enter "labor peace agreements" with hotel unions.

Republicans said it was akin to the "card check law" that's seen as a union enrollment-booster, while Democrats say it was merely protecting existing labor agreements.

Supporters of the reform plan expected the measure would make it to Paterson's desk sooner rather than later. Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, the Westchester Democrat who has shepherded the measure along for years, said he was confident it would pass when it comes to the Senate.

"There are way more than 32 committed votes," said Brodsky.

The problem, at least temporarily: At least two Senate Democrats, Ruben Diaz Sr. and Carl Kruger, had left for the day, meaning the bill couldn't pass on a party-line vote. Democrats control the Senate by a 32-to-30-vote margin.

Diaz left Albany on Tuesday afternoon, claiming he would not return until a deficit-reduction plan had been worked out by leaders. Also Tuesday, Temporary President Malcolm Smith suggested that Leandra's Law would have to wait until after that package had been hammered out.

The conference ultimately changed its mind: "We talked about it with members on both sides of the aisle," Smith said Wednesday after the 58-0 vote. " … We didn't want to get this mixed up in the politics of the (deficit reduction plan), and I agreed with that as well. This represents something totally different."

Amid the unrelated activity, lawmakers once again insisted progress was inching along on the deficit plan, with the fight still focused on school aid cuts that Paterson says are necessary and which lawmakers oppose.

"We are continuing to negotiate," said Senate Democratic Majority Conference Leader John Sampson. "We are not going to commit governmental malpractice."

Smith said the final debates accounted for hundred of millions in cuts — a large sum, but not especially bad relative to size of the looming gap.